Cementing wells



P. B. KINNIEAR.

CEMENTING WELLS.

I APPLICATION FILED .I-AN. 4.1921. 1,381,645. Patentedune M9 192i..

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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'15.18. KINNIEAR.'

cErEfNnm; WELLS. Mmm/mon msn JAN. 4119211 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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in cementing apparatus in position, theview berH'ILo B. KINNIEAR,

GEMENTING WELLS.

To all whom' t mayconcem:

Be it known that I, PHILo B. KiNInAx, acitizen 'of the` United States,residing at Salt Creek,

new and useful improvements in Cementing Wells, of whichv thev followingis a speci l'lcation.

`The present invention relates to the art of cementing wells, eitherwater, gas or oil, and comprises the use of a method and meanswherebythe cement may be accurately placed 'between the metal wellcasing andthe walls of the wellhole so as t completely shut oli a waterstratum, or any other stratum the product from which is undesirable. iThe 'apparatus necessary for this improved method of cementing calls forrelatively few special parts, and is readily as sembled and placed inposition in the metal well casing.

Reference is had to -the accompanying @drawings Villustrating theinvention,l and where1n:

Figure 1 1s a fragmental elevation, partly section, of a Well with thewell casing and ing taken at the time the casing has been filled withwater through the inner tubeland the Wateris flowing from the outlet atthe Fig. 2 la ragmental sectional view,fthe

- upper part of the'cementing apparatus 'being omitted, showing the wellcasing raised' from the-bottom of the well/and the .water flowingupwardly through the space between the well casing and the walls of thewell hole and over the ground.

Fig. 3, a viewsimilarsto Fig. 2, taken after the cementhasbeenintroduced into the ce` inenting tube and well casing, and 'the dey thecement, the

of water pumped in above cementing in position preparatory to forcingvthe cement into the desired position outsideL the slred quantitycasing; and f Fig. 4, a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3,.

th'e cementing .plug having been pumped .through the cernenting tubeinto the 'lower cementing head and the cement forced into positionoutside of and around the casing so as izo-completely shut off the waterstratum. In cementingA a well by my improved method, the well hole 1 isdrilled in thel usual manner 'and wellcasing 2 sunk therein ,until -thecasing shoe 3 rests ameter than kin the county of Natrona and .State oflVyoming, have' invented certain rthe cement is'toso as topshut voil'the undesirable,

inthe severaljjgures of the Vtached to the upper end of .of couplingmember 5 lis Lend.

plug being. shown 0F SALT CREEK, WYOMING, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALF V'.lODAVID dW'. LEWIS, OF SALT CREEK, WYOMING. f l

vParental June 14,1921.

Aseran No. 435,043.

well. The'well hole'l being ofgreater ditrally of the hole, there isprovided an annular space 4 surroundingcasing 2 into which be -forcedfrom Within the casing stratum shown drawings. 1 l.

In Fig. 1 the cement-ing .apparatus is' shown in position in thewellcasing 2. At

a swage nipple 6 having a T coupling 7 Secured' to its upper Thehorizontal outlet of the coupling 7 is provided with a suitable valve 8,secured to the coupling 9 and a bushing as will appear` the cementingmetal tubeK 12 through which the water and4 cement are pumped Vinto thecasing. Tube l2 is supported in casing 2 by means of av collar 13screwed to its upper end and resting on av shoulder' 14 provided in theupp end of the upper cementing head 11 for this purpose. Suhcientclearance is provided between the `outei' 'face of collar 13 and theinner face of cementingk head 11 above shoulder 14 to allow for a thinlayer of loose hemp or other suitable'packing.

A smaller T-coupling 15 is lconnected to the upper end ofcollar 13 by ashort nipple 16, the upper opening Vof the T being normally closed byga.plug 17. The horizontal outlet of T 15 is provided with a valve 1 8,connected to T '15 by a. nipple 19, and from the otherside of whichsuitable piping20 leads to a pump (not shown) for forcing V12, thecementing head being threaded interiorly at its upper end and the lowerend of tube 12 correspondingly threaded1 exteriorly for this purpose. Ataper seat-22 is provided in cementing head 21, the purpose of whichwill appear later.

on the bovtteni4 of the i by means of a nipplel0, while to the upper endof coupllng 7 there 1s secured the upper 'casing 2which is located cenvcasing2 by means In carrying out my improved. method of cementing,the apparatus is first rigged up as shown in Fig. 1 with the casing shoe3 resting on the bottom of the well. Valves rows, carrying l ing 2 andthe dista-nce between the lowerr been pumped into -either be left partly18 and 8 being open,. water is then pumped into casing 2 through pipe20, tube 12, and their connections until casing 2 and swage nipple 6 arefilled'with water, which then flows out at valve 8,as indicated by thearwith it such loose clay or other earthy matter. as may haveaccumulated in the bottom of the well. When the water` has circulated inthis course for a Sullicient period, casing 2 is raised off the bottomoff the well,"yalve. Vallowed to circulateunder casing 2, upwardlythrough the annular space 4: and out over the ground, 'as indicated bythe arrows in- E ig. 2. 'When the circulation is good and all thecavings-in cleaned out of the Well hole, casing 2 is let down on thebottom of the well and. tested for tightness. If there is no leakagearound the 'bottom of the casing shoey 3, or elsewhere, thenfthecementing can be started.

The desiredy amount of cement is first pumped through tube 12 into thelower part of casing 2 and well hole 1 directly on top of the water, acertain ,amount of which it displaces, the water flowing out over ltheground around the outside of casing 2, as shown in Fig. 3. After all thecement has tube 12, a measured quantity ot' water is pumped in-on top ofthe cement.` Plugv 17 in theupper end of coupling 15 is' then removedand a wooden plug23, having a lower tapered portion 21 corresponding totaper seat 22 in lower ceinenting head 21, placed therein, plug 17replaced, and lug 23 pumped through tube 12. When p ug 23 reaches taperseat 22 in the lower cementing" head 21, as shownlin Fig. 4, such atight jointy is formed that cir- `culation is stopped, this beingindicated by the laboring of the pump, which is then stopped by theoperator, or the stopping of thel pump itself. Casing 2 being {illedwith water and valve 8' closed while the cement is being pumped intoplace,`the cement will not rise in the lower portion of casing 2 anyIhigher than the level of the lower edge of cementing head 21, and thus`will only find accommodation for itself by flowing under casing shoe 3into 'annular space 4 into which space the cement will be forced to aheight depending on the amount of water between the top of the cementand amount of this measured quantity of water, which can-be estimatedfrom the size of casedge of casing shoeA and-.the lower edge of thelower cementing head 21', may, of course, be varied ,at wilhso that' thecement can within l the casing or driven entirely out,.asdesired.

The well casing 2 can nowV be let down on'the bottom-of the well andtested for tightness. If no leak shows, Vthe cementing tube may beremoved.

8 closed, andthe Water` Vwater into the casing.

plug 23. I The It will be .seen that a distin'ctadvantage lof thepresent method,4 and the apparatus other proposedv used to. carry itout, over methods is the economy ellected' in the amountof cementusedysince, as the operator may cause the volume of cement tofbe driyentoy anyvaryi-ng the measured quantity lof lwater above the cement,heis'required to' use only so much cement as is estimated will benecvdefinite position desired by essary to cover the objectionablestratum.` f

What is claimed is1- -4 1. The method of cemen ing wells' and the lilc\\hich comprises forming an `annular space adjacent the walls 'of thewell hole; forming an annular chamber within said annular'slmce;introducingfluid into said chamber; closingthe annular chamber from. v

the atmosphere; pumping 'cement to the bottom of said chamber; pumping ameasurec quantity of fluid o n top'of the cement; placing a.separating'member on said measured quantity of water, means beinglocated in Ithe lower portion of said annular chamber lor stopping saidseparating member; and pumping fluid until the-separating member reachesthe stopping mea-ns.

2. The' method like whichI comprises introducing fluid into the casing;introducing cement into the cas# definitely located karin` .said casinolhaving l r o introducing a meas resting means therein;-

.ured quantity of fluid into thecasing'abeve the cement; and againpumping fluid/ into said casing. said fluid being separated from themeasured quantity of fluidl by a suitable barrier. until said barrier isstopped by the arresting means.

3. The method `ot' ccmenting wells or the ot cementing wells andthe.

into the annular' chamber like which comprises establishing a circulatetion of water down the casing-and up the space outside thereof;introducing cement into the casing. on top of the water; introducing `ameasured quantity of water into the casing on top of the cement;`introducing separated from said measured quantity ot" water by abarrier;

and pumping water into saidl `casing `until the downward'movement ofsaidbarrier is arrested by definitely'located means within the. Casing.l i

4. The method of cementing-wells and the like which comprises d enitelylocating in the well casing a tube provided witli arresting means;closing the upper end of the casing against the' atmosphere;vintroducing water into the casing through saidrtube; troducingvcementinto` the casing above the water: introducing `'agmeasuredquantity of water into the tubeabovev thecement; andv pumping water intothe tube,'separated from said measured quantity of water'lfy a suitablebarricr, untilsaid barrier isstopped by p the arresting means.

`adapted to pass through the tube,

5. In apparatus for cemenizng Welsand he kethe eombinoion with a welloesiug7 of a, -cemeutug tube adjustaby mounted, Wlthm the casing, andho'vmg axresimg means at 112s lower end; Coupling ineens i serving tosupport the tube wihu the eusng and to dose the upper end 'of the easingfrom 'he atmosphere; and e plug :Lnpted to pass through the tube andCooperate with sae arresting .meane- 'o the lower end of the tube. l

6. In apparatus for eemeutng weils and the ke, the Combination off., ocementinp; tube adapted. to he located, Within a well oueing; couplingmeans for supporting' said, tube ifu the easing, said coupling' meansaso serving to dose the upper end of the casing outside the tube; neementng head located on the lower end of Said tube and having taperedpassage there'bhrough; and a. plug sai plug' having n, tapered endintended to cooperate with the tapered passage 'u1 the Cemeutng head `toseal theower end of the tube.

lfn apperzttuS-ffor eementing wells and the lke, the Combination of, eeemeuting tube having a constroted opening at its lower end; means forsupportiug said tube in a, Well easing, said means further serv ing toclose the upper end of the easing out eide he tube; and a plug; adapted"to pese through said vtube" and form aseul ai; the lower end of thetube with said consrioted opening.

8. In apparatus for eemeuug .wells and the like, the 'combination of, aoemeuting tube havuing au oute in. the upper portion 4gilereoya vuve forseid outet; removehe pug in the upper eu of uid ube;` a, cemeutug headon the vloumareud of Suid tule, said head having o taperedWresugevtherethrouffn; means forero; )ortiuo sa'idffube in n i n u Welleasing and to dose theeud, o the casing' outside Suid tube, sdiflgrleaushaving an outet therein; u vulve `for' 52ndV outlet; and aphur adaptedto pass through the tube,

Suid pug having' e tapered portion intended to Cooperate with thetapered paesegre iu the oementug head to seul the lower end of theCementng tube.

U1 testmlouy whereof I have slgued my nume to thls Speclozltlon. e

